This weekend we’ve been involved with the Global Missions celebration at Elizabeth Baptist Church.  Ashley’s done a great job representing us!

Kathy and I went to the Ben Franklin exhibit at the Atlanta History Museum.  Most of the orginal paintings that we know Ben by were there! Incredible.

Ran 4 miles this afternoon.

Peace.

The transmission guys called me this afternoon. If it’s just the torque converter we’re looking at $800. If the whole thing is shot it’s going to be at least $2,000. Ay caramba! Pray for metal healing!

Super early morning for me today. Ashley and I started out at 8 am at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce for the planning meeting for the Franklin Graham crusade in 2009. I slept maybe 4 hours last night. I’m a late night guy and normally am at my computer till around midnight working on some project.  Even when I know I’ve got an early morning gig, my brain just doesn’t want to slow down.

The meeting went on for about 2 hours and was just about to end. I’d been completely quiet the whole time. Finally I said, “I’m a missionary here in Atlanta working with apartment complexes. Almost everyone I work with is unchurched. What percentage of the people that come to these events are unchurched? My partners are convinced that the great majority will be church people.” No clear answer was given. Then I said, “Is it possible to do a simultaneous event on site with TVS and a DVD? I just don’t see all these unchurched people coming to this event.” They did say that that was a possibility. So that’s a ray of hope. The estimated the cost of the event to be between 1.5 and 1.8 MILLION dollars. The Gwinnett Civic Center can hold about 13,000 people and there will be four services. If everyone of those seats is taken up with a non-Christian that would be 52,000 people. If you divide $1,800,000 by 52,000 you get $34.65.

I have to ask myself, does it really cost $35 to tell someone about Jesus?

I’ll still support the event, but I do believe that our strategy of going directly TO THE COMMUNITY and building relationships with them is the answer. I think the days of these large events really reaching our communities is over.

However, I also believe in a “buffet approach” to evangelism. There will be people that can only be reached by these big events.

I still felt kind of bad to be the guy that stood up and actually asked for a bottom line–will unchurched people come to this event? The answer was, “Only if they are brought there.”

Ashley asked me, “Daddy, do you see yourself going to pick someone up, take them over there, wait in line to get a seat just so they can hear someone preach?” Had to say, “Not really.” I’d rather sponsor a group to do a cookout for $100/location, play some games and share the Gospel right where they live. It’s the on going work that’s the most important and THAT is what Whirlwind is committed to doing.

I’m not sure if everyone who reads this blog supports our ministry–but you should.

After the Graham meeting, Ashley and I did a recon of the four locations in Lawrenceville that our partners at Crossroads church and Union Baptist Church will be working with. We met with the team leaders, introduced them to the managers of the complexes, got to meet the kids after they got off the bus and just had a terrific time. I’m looking foward to great things that first weekend in October!

My partners at Perimeter will be working at 20 locations simultaneously in 6 cities around Metro Atlanta on October 7th. This year we’re not cooking, instead we’re putting our finances towards buying Evangecubes–a great new way to share the Gospel with a little device that’s shaped like Rubik’s cube, but folds out to show different pictures of the story of salvation. My guess is that one church in one afternoon will share the Gospel with at LEAST 200 people. That number could easily be 500. We’ll interact with over 1,000-1,500 non-Christians. The cost of event per location is less than $100.

After the meeting I had several people come up to me and tell me how glad they were that I’d said what I’d said. I guess I’m the field missionary reality check.

Ashley and I also wrote our 200 newletters and got them in the mail this afternoon! PTL!

Peace.

I dropped my Chrysler off at the mechanics today. They ended up telling me that the transmission needs looking at.  Bahd luck.  Kathy and I just took it over to American Transmissions a little while ago.

This morning Ashley and I went over to make our copies for the newsletter.  The UPS store was CLOSED permanently!  That was a bummer since I’ve worked with the boss of that store for over a decade now.  I’ll miss you, Jeff!  I hope he’s ok.

We went next to buy stamps at the PO and I checked with the copy place next door.  Those guys are Christians and were delighted to work with us.  The machines are a little faster, but I don’t like the copies quite as much.  It will be cheaper.  I also found out that Mike–the guy that used to do my sign work for me–was at that store too.  I thought it was pretty cool.  He does great work.  I need to get a new Whirlwind Missions sign made for in from of the FBC Doraville building.  The old one turned up missing a few weeks ago.  I reckon it broke up from the big storms during the summer.

I got an email this morning that Perimeter was throwing some computer tables away.  I went and got them and took them to Oak Forest.  Ms. Vickie needs them for her program.  Seems like a lot of what I do is haul stuff from one partner to another.  Guess that’s what they call networking.

I had Bill Hickey, the elderly gentleman who’s been doing painting projects for me, meet me at the church.  My partners at Me and My House gave him a love offering for the work that he had done around the mission.  I know he was happy about that.  Later, he came over to the Azalea Mission where we did the envelopes for this month’s newsletter and helped the kids with their homework.

When I finally got home this afternoon I went out for a 4 mile run.  My old legs felt pretty tired today.

Then K and I took the car to the transmission place.

Finished up my email with teams coming in the next couple of weeks.

Peace.

Super great day today!

I got to hang out with my mentor, Sam Bandela for lunch.  He was with his nephew, Stephen Bandela who I’m trying to get plugged into the Clarkston community.  It was great spending time with him.  I always learn something from Sam.  He’s the main article for the CBF news magazine this month.

Met with Matt Biggs a fellow Kenyan that studied in London for years.  He’s interested in plugging in at the mission at Azalea.  His church picks up several of the mission kids.  I owe them a debt of gratitude for that and want to support them any way I can. Matt’s a cool guy.  Us Africans need to stick together!

Also did a drive around with Zeny and Nate Martin, two new missionaries working with Tony Compolo’s Mission Year organization.  I had fun showing them the many options for service in and around the Clarkston and Chamblee areas.  We have a huge infrastructure.  They more I try to explain it to newbies the more I’m amazed by really how much we have going on.  We really do have a terrific team.

Wrote my newsletter article tonight.  Got all the labels ready for the kids to help me with the envelopes tomorrow.

I confirmed about half of the locations for my Perimeter partners for the October 7th outreach events.  I’ll knock out the rest of that tomorrow.  I set up all the locations around Lawrenceville that my partners at Crossroads will be working at on the 6th.  I’ll do a pre-site visit with them on Thursday.

Worked out on weights early this morning.

Peace

Just finished a meeting with my CPA.  Looks like I’ll finally be able to send in my 2006 taxes.  Better late than never.  IRS doesn’t care, as long as they owe ME money!

Had a great talk with my partner Jason Pope of the Salvation Army this morning.  We’ve had a great partnership for the last several years and we’re excited about some new mission opportunities in the Pittsburgh (downtown E. Atlanta) area.  Talk about a problematic location!

Took my car in this morning.  Mechanic told me that the code the computer was spitting out says that it’s not the transmission now.  PTL!  The light hasn’t come back on so maybe it was just a glitch.

I’m headed over to check on one of my partners who’s having car problems.  He’s the guy that’s been doing painting for us and has been helping secure the mission at Huntington Terraces.

Then I’ll go and help the kids at Azalea!

Full speed ahead, baby!

Go read Ashley’s blog!

Peace.

Ashley and I went to Perimeter Church this morning.  They are one of my favorite partners are really are on the cutting edge of missions in Atlanta.  I spoke to the Middle School to prep them for this Fall.  Their discipleship groups will be going to two of the missions several times in the next few months.  A very enthusiastic group!

Also spoke to their leadership team.  Helped them understand what to expect and why it’s important we’re doing what we’re doing.

Today was the 30th anniversary for their church.  What an awesome group of folks.  Some of my best friends and longest term partners work there!

Woke up at 5am and couldn’t go back to sleep.  Reckon I’ll crash early tonight, but who knows?

Ashley and I ate at the Mall.  We like the big salads we get there.  She also picked up an Ipod nano.  What a super cool device.  Apple rocks.

I’m headed outside to lift weights.  Feel like pushing really hard against something.

Peace.

I traveled back to the Carrollton/Villa Rica area today to work with my partners at Midway Macedonia Baptist Church. They hosted two Outreach Events at Magnolia Lake and at Hickory Falls. Doug Allison and his “Blink of an Eye” ministry was the leader. We had good response at both locations.

Ashley and Kathy worked at Kensington Station where they had a Hip Hop Rally with the help of many local musician and the Greater Faith Church. Fantastic music!

Ran 4 miles this afternoon.

Just finished up my email and admin work.

Had a great talk with my folks on the way to Villa Rica this morning! They are such a blessing to me. I really count on my Dad for good advice.

Peace.

Worked out on weights this morning.

Made calls to a new partner who has just now moved to Clarkston working with Mission Year.  Also set up an Outreach Event with a new church partner–Union Baptist in Winder.

Went through the Team Assignment page to update locations and the new teams coming into town.  Full speed ahead!

Knocked out my email.

Peace.

Ashley rode with me today–UT–University of Tim time! We had a great day!

Had a meeting with some of my favorite partners from Dunwoody Baptist Church and Youth Outreach United. Drew Grubbs is a terrific guy and really getting a lot done for the Kingdom. Mark Paul is the new Youth Director for DBC and is also the son of my treasurer for Whirlwind Missions–Jon Paul. I really love Mark. We worked together for years when he was at FBC Conyers. I’m so glad he’s on the team closer to us. Barb Newman is the Local Missions director and her partner is Jeff Reams is the the Missions Director. It’s great to meet old friends and new partners as we discuss how to Take the Church to the People!

Ashley and I had a fun time walking around the mall doing some shopping for some fall clothes. That daughter of mine can make a burlap bag look great!

We spent some time at FBC Doraville catching up on Admin work while Ashley continues to update our Maps from the website.

Then over to Azalea to help the kids with their homework. I was kind of sleepy after getting home so late from Villa Rica last night. I think I still managed to tutor the kids with the right answers!

Ran 4 miles this morning.

Just finished my email and working on the team schedule for the fall. LOTS of great things happening!

Peace.

I had a terrific time with my partners from Perimeter this morning! Looks like we’re going to have a great time mobilizing their Middle School students at Northchase and the Corners. I took Ryan from Perimeter over to meet Paul Reynolds who is the director of the mission at Norchase. We’re excited to see how the church is being mobilized!

Checked on my office stuff at FBC Doraville before driving over to Midway Macedonia Baptist Church between Villa Rica and Carrollton. Took me about an hour and a half to get there. We had the big march in with the flags for the beginning of their Global Impact Conference. Rick White from the People’s Church in Franklin, Tennessee preached a great message on missions.

After the sermon the congregation came to the family life center to see the missionary exhibits. I had fun interacting with the congregation and visiting with my good friend Doug Allison. He’s been working at two of the apartment complexes near their church for the last couple of years. Great guy!

Got home about 11pm. Dove into my email. Just got that knocked out.

My check engine light came back on today.  I’ll take the Chrysler in to have it checked out again.  Hopefully it’s not really transmission problems.  I got to admit I was a bit worried about driving all the way to Villa Rica.  Thank you, Jesus for putting a shield of protection around me!

Peace.